Thomas j



(No Model.)

Y No. 538,421.

NTTE STATES ATTNT TTTOT.

THOMAS J. JOHNSTON, OF I/VASIIINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

LOCK-STRIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 538,421, dated April 30, 1895. Application filed September l, 1888, Serial No. 284,322. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that 1, THOMAS J. JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lock-Strikes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a lock-strike of improved construction, combining economy of manufacture, and effectiveness and strength in protecting the mortise in which it is seated, and which may at all times be entered and engaged by the bolts of the lock notwithstanding any change in their height which may take place from sagging of the door or settling ofthe door jamb.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood I have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying it into effect.

In said drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a lock-strike embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same applied to a door-jamb. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 3 3, Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings A indicates the front Wall of the lock-strike, which wall is engaged by the bolt. B indicates the rear Wall, and C is a connecting piece formed with said walls and extending from one to the other across the bottom of the mortise. These parts are formed preferably of malleable metal, such as brass, stamped by dies into the form shown. The cross connecting piece C may or may not extend for the full length of parts A and B. There is thus formed a seat for the bolts of the lock and latch faced upon both sides with metal and extending vertically for a considerable distance. Such length of recess enables the strike to be quickly applied to a door jamb without great care or loss of time in obtaining an exact registry between it andv the lock of the door, and also insures that said bolts shall always register with and enter the recess notwithstanding any change inthe height of said bolts, which often occurs from various causes.

c are screw holes, formed as shown in said connecting part C, through which the screws D which secure the lock-strike in place are also enables the device to be made of consid- 6o erable less length than in those forms heretofore used in which the screw holes were situated at the upper and lower ends of the lockstrike and respectively above and below the mortise.

F indicates the front lip of the lock-strike, formed with the part A and inclined or slightly curved, as shown, to force'back the spring bolt. This part F may extend for the full length of part A, as shown, or for a portion of such length only.

At G is shown the rear lip of the device, which serves as a finish and a protection to the rear edge of the mortise.

The manner of applying and using my invention has been sufficiently indicated in the foregoing specification of its construction.

Having thus vdescribed my invention, what I claim is- 'l. As a new article of manufacture, the lock-strike for mortise locks herein described, consisting of side walls connected by a bottom piece, all forming a groove of greater length than the depth'of the bolt and latch, thus permitting the bolt or latch to register with different portionsof the strike, thc bottom piece being provided with screw holes, substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, the lock-strike for mortise locks herein described, consisting of side walls connected by a bottom piece, and open at its ends: whereby is formed a groove of greater length than the depth of the bolt or latch,vthus permitting such bolt or latch to register with different portions ot' the strike, substantially as described.

3. As a new article of manufacture, the lock-strike for mortise locks herein described, consisting of side walls, one of which is provided with the beveled lip F, connected by a bottom piece; whereby is formed a grooveof greater length than the depth of the bolt or latch, thus permitting such bolt or latch to ICO register with different portions of the strike, ter with different portions of the strike, subsubstantially as described. stantially as described. xo 4. As a new article of manufacture, a lock In testimony whereof I affix my signature strike struck up from sheet metal consisting in the presence of two Witnesses. 5 of the side walls A B, the bottom piece O and THOMAS J. JOHNSTON.

the beveled lip F; the bottom piece O being Witnesses: provided with the screw holes c c; whereby HOWETT STEWART,

the bolt or latch of a inortise lock may regis- JNO. L. MUNYON. 

